Maoist link to Telangana protests? Govt issues warning

The Home Ministry has issued a warning saying that Maoists have infiltrated the Telangana protests, using the agitation to infuse violence in Andhra Pradesh, according to a media report.

Earlier, the Supreme Court stayed the State High Court's direction for withdrawal of paramilitary forces from Osmania University campus, the hotbed of the agitation.

The apex court however, turned down the plea of senior counsel Harish Salve appearing for the state and Prashant Bhushan for students that the direction against "misbehaviour" should also cover the journalists who also were allegedly assaulted in a brutal manner by the paramilitary forces.

"At the moment, we are concerned with the students," Justice Singhvi said while refraining from passing any direction for protection of journalists as sought by the two counsel.

Earlier, assailing the February 16 high court order, Salve claimed, "We have a strong perception that Maoists have infiltrated the university and are creating trouble."

Salve said the recent killing of police personnel in West Bengal and Naxalite violence in Chattisgarh and other places are clear indications that Maoists are behind the largescale violence being witnessed in Andhra Pradesh over separate Telangana state.

Salve insisted that the authorities have enough video evidence to prove that the agitation was not student-driven as projected by the protagonists of the movement.

"There is large-scale infiltration, we have seen what has happened in West Bengal. In the university, there will be Naxalites. Video clippings reveal that they (agitation) are not student-driven. The Osmania University VC is under pressure," he submitted.

The report says that the Maoists have a sizeable presence in Andhra Pradesh as the state is a part of the infamous 'Red Corridor'. Hyderabad, which witnessed violent protests by pro-Telangana students on Saturday, is in for more trouble today with the students planning to hold demonstrations again.

On Saturday, the students clashed with the police first at the Nizam College, Osmania University and also the state Secretariat where the legislature had convened for the budget session.